Device for cutting and removing a slab of plastic material



March 1954 M. J. WEINBERG 2,672,683

DEVICE FOR CUTTING AND REMOVING A SLAB OF PLASTIC MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 7 1950 0 R 1 m M m A r o m m 5 w, W 5 m w A m w 6 m a 5 A 5 w A. A fi/ w W/ 2 m 1/ flv 2 B e a W K i ATTORNEY March 23, 1954 J w m RG 2,672,683

DEVICE FOR CUTTING AND REMOVING A SLAB 0F PLASTIC MATERIAL Filed April 7, 1-950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 n 4/ 42 INVENTOR.

MAURICE J. WEINBERG BY T T j- ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 23, 1954 OFFICE DEVICE FOR "CUTTING AND REMOVING A SLAB OF PLASTIC MATERIAL Maurice J. Weinberg, New York, N. Y. Application April 7, 1950, Serial N0.154,6'69 8 Claims. Cl. i30-117) This invention relates to devices for cutting and removing a slab of butter or the like plastic material from a block of suchmaterial. It is particularly directed to'a remover frame having means to engage the flanges of a chamber in which the block of butter pressed upwardly to project above the upper end of the chamber so that as the remover frame is moved across the top of the "chamber a top layer or slab, or layer of impressed butter pats may be cut from the block and removed f-rom the butter chamber. The device in which the instant remover frame may be used is shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 773,817, filed on September 17, 1947, now Patent No. 2,624,941.

An object of this invention is to generally improve a device for cutting a slab from a block of soft material such as butter or the like, shown and described in my cop'ending application, Serial No. 773,818, filed on September 13, 1947, now Patent No. 2,589,911.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described comprising a frame having parallel arms, a metal cutter wire interconnecting said areas, adjacent the front end thereof, for cutting the butter or like material, and a carrier bed comprising a non-metallic thread or cord such as synthetic plastic card laced back and forth through openings in said parallel arms, on which the cut slab rests and is carried after cutting through the butter and thereafter raising the device.

still another object of this invention to provide highly improved means on the parallel for stretching or tensioning the cutter wire.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a remover frame of the character described having means to receive outwardly extending side flanges at the open end of a butter chamber so that the remover frame may be slidably moved along the top of the butter chamber and means to guide the remover frame relative to the butter chamber.

A further object of this invention is to provide 'a remover frame of the character described comprising a frame member, a metal cutter wire at the forward end of the frame for cutting butter, cheese, or the like soft plastic material, means to tension the metallic cutter wire, and 'a carrier bed comprising a single piece of synthetic plastic cord laced back and forth from one sid of the frame to :the other, andmeans to anchorthe ends of the cord.

Yet a "further object of "this invention is to provid a highly improved remover frame 'of the Cir character described, comprising a frame member having parallel arms, each having an. inwardly extending flange and a downwardly extending flange, and a carrier bed substantially contacting the undersurfaces of the inwardly extending flanges of said arms, whereby to insulate "said flanges from the flange of a butter *chamberengaged by the remover frame when cutting a slab of butter therefrom, to prevent friction, corrosion or electrolytic action.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a remover frame of the character described which the downwardly "extending flanges are provided with means to prevent contact of theinwardly extending flanges and lugs with the flanges of a butter chamber, whereby to prevent electrolytic action.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a highly improved remover frame of the character described, provided "with a metal cutter wire, a non-metallic carried bed, means to prevent electrolytic action between the frame and the butter chamber when cutting slabs of butter therefrom, and means to prevent friction between the remover frame and the butter chamber.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a durable remover frame of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and yet practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in th construction hereinafter described,

and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown various illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a remover frame embodying the invention and illustrating the same in position for cutting a slab of butter projeoted above a butter chamber, and engaging the flanges of the upper end of the butter chamber;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the remover frame embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line -5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line "Ii-B ofFigfi;

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of one of the anchoring screws for the cutter wire;

Fig. 8 is an end view of the screw shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an opposite end view of the screw shown in Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the angle plates to retain the screw against rotation;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the lock nuts; and

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on line I2-I2 of Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, I9 designates a remover frame embodying the invention for cutting a slab of butter, cheese or other plastic material from a block of such material.

Said remover frame comprises a frame member I I, which may be made of aluminum, Duralumin or other suitable light-weight metal. The frame member II comprises a pair of parallel I coextensive arms I2, I3, interconnected at their rear ends by a transverse portion Hi, from which extends rearwardly a handle I5. Extending upwardly from the forward ends of the arms I2, I3, are inwardly curved portions I3 interconnected by a transverse portion I'I spaced above the plane of the arms I2, I3.

The arms I2, I3 are substantially similar and symmetrically disposed to one another. Each is of angular transverse cross-section. Thus, the

arm I 2 comprises a top inwardly extending flange [2a and a vertical flange IZb extending downwardly from the outer end of the flange I2a. Likewise, the frame I3 comprises a top horizontal inwardly extending flange I3a and a downwardly extending vertical flange I3b. At the underside of the flange I20. is an undersurface or shoulder I2c. At the underside of the flange I3a is an undersurface or shoulder I36.

The flange I2b is formed with six horizontal through openings I2e and the flange I31) is formed with six horizontal through openings I312.

, The openings I3e in the arm I3 are spaced somewhat further apart than are the openings I2e in the flange I219. The openings I2e and I3e nearest the portion I4 of the frame member are in alignment. However, due to the spacing, the opening [36 closest to portion I6 of arm I3 is closer thereto than is the opening I2e closest to portion I6 of arm I2. The openings I2e and I30 are in a plane adjacent the underside of the shoulders I2c and I3c.

Fixed to the outer surface of flange I3b of arm I3 is a pair of anchoring pegs 23, 2I. Said pegs have heads 22 formed with inner conical surfaces 23. The peg 23 is located adjacent the opening I3e closest to the portion It on arm I3. Interlaced through the openings I2e and I3e is a cord 24 made of nylon, plastic or any other suitable flexible material. The outer ends of the cord are anchored by winding around pegs 23, 2I between the heads 23, and the outer surface of flange I3b of arm I3.

The tapered surface 23 causes the wound cord to be tightly wedged in place. The cord is laced back and forth as shown in Fig. 2 and the runs of the lacing become more and more inclined toward the front end of the remover frame. It will be noted that the cord 24 substantially contacts the surfaces I20, I30 of the arms I2, I3.

Extending from the flanges I 2b, I.3b are inwardly extending projections or lugs I21, I33, spaced below and disposed parallel to the surfaces I and I30. The projections or lugs I2f, I3 are spaced somewhat rearwardly of portions I3 of the frame member. The said lugs I21, I3 are formed with vertical through openings 30, 3I respectively, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Said openings 33, 3| are disposed below the undersurfaces I20, I of the frame member.

Flange I2 is formed with a horizontal circular through opening 33 spaced rearwardly of the lug I21. The surface I20 is formed with a longitudinal, substantially semi-circular notch 35 forming a continuation of the opening 33. Thus, a plane passing through the surface I20 will cut the opening 33, a major portion of the opening being below said plane and the notch 35 being somewhat less than a semi-cylindrical surface and above said plane.

The flange I3 is formed with a horizontal through opening 33 and surface I30 is formed with a notch 3i, forming a continuation of part of said opening. The notch 37 is part-cylindrical. The openings 33, 36 are in alignment with each other and an axis passing through said openings is inclined to the arms I2, I3, being parallel to the adjacent run of the laced cord 24.

Extending through each of the openings 33, 35 is a screw 43. Said screw 43 is formed with a longitudinal flat 4!. It is also formed with a longitudinal radial slot 42, extending through the screw. Said screw is also formed with a central axial drilled opening extending to one end thereof but terminating short of the other end thereof. Said screw is furthermore formed with external screw threads 44 from one end thereof substantially to the opposite end thereof. The screws 43 are symmetrical with respect to the frame.

interconnecting the screws is a metal, flexible cutter wire 45. At each end of the wire 45 is a knot 43, contacting the inner end 41 of the drilled opening 43. The wire 45 passes through the slots 42 of the screws 43.

Means is provided to stretch or tension the Wire .5. To this end there is mounted on each of the arms I2, I3 an angle shaped plate 53 comprising a top, inwardly extending flange 5| and an outer downwardly extending flange 52. The flanges 5| contact the upper surfaces of the flanges I2a, I3a respectively. The flanges 52 contact the outer surfaces of the flanges I21), I32) respectively.

The flange 52 of each member is formed with a part-circular opening 53. Each opening 53 has a flat bottom edge 54. Each flangev 52 furthermore is formed on opposite sides of opening 53 with a pair of outwardly pressed detents 55, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The opening 53 is of such size as to slidably and non-rotatably receive one of the screws 43. Thus the flat edge 53 contacts the flat surface 4| of the screw to prevent turning of the screw relative to the flange 52.

The screws 43 are inserted through the openings 33 and 36 with the openings 43 pointing outwardly. Screwed on to the threaded portion 34 of each screw 4!] is a lock nut 56 having internal screw threads to engage the threads 44. Each nut 53 may be of hexagonal exterior cross-section so that it may be turned by the use of a hexagonal socketed wrench. At the inner end of each nut 56 are a plurality of part-circular projections 57 forming a broken circular line around the threaded opening of the nut. Between adjacent projections 57 are slots 58. Pairs of said slots 58 are diametrically opposed to each other.

It will now be observed that when the nuts 53 are screwed onto screws 40, the nuts 53 will cause amuse said screws. tot he; moved] outwardly; away from weir other, ithsre'byrtensioningztheicutting wireili. A s then'uts areztightenedsthexdetents 55 wiliisnap into the slots: 56 i to: keeps 'thLEi loch; nntst from; afar cidenta-lly'looseningr The-nutssfiirthermore'hold the angireshapedimembersaifl ineplacerontherarms ofth'e remover'framer.

Insertediintoathe openings tflsand wt on tiled-lugs I2 and I3fi'ane2pegsr6tiofi synthetic: plastic;mate;- rial such: as nylon. The: uppenend's of: the pegs 60: project slightly ZEbGVE-fihfl'i' upper surfaces: of saidilugs ld fi; l 3f.

'I he =flanges [221% and" lea: are formed with: venticalthrough openings 6 2 and fiflirespect-ively, ad jaeentthe-portions: l fi' cit-the remover frame; Imsert'ed into: these openings are pegs 64 of syn thetib plastics; suchz as= nylon, projecting: slightly below the undersurfaces me and We of said flanges: 'I- h'e purposeofusihg the=plasticonnom metallic pegs w and 8'4 is thatiwhen the deviceds i'n use the projecting portions of said pegs will prevent contact of the"- remover frame with: the metaffla'n'ge on the butter chamber to thereby prevent el'ectrolytic action; as mightresuit-if the flanges I222; lea rode directlfv'on theifi'angesof the butter chamber; since the metal of which the remover frame ismad'e i's'difi erent than-the metal of which the' butter chamber is made;

Likewise, the carrier cord Z4 contacting the shelves or surfaces IZe and- 13's make-an: insulat'i'ozr bed against friction between said surfaces andtheupper surfacesof'thefianges on the butterch'a-mber' which would cause corrosion of" the metal on which the surfaces ride and which WOllTd'EISUCdUSESHIUCiEB-I The dissiinilar metals of the remover frame" and the butter chamber would cause electrolytic action which is aggra- Va-ted by the sait' in butter or' lacti'o a-cid or other acidi Such electrolyti'cact'ion' isavoided by the use of plastic or nylonthread 24 and" thewplastic or nylon pegs 6B and E4. The cutter wire i'i is made ofmetai'for strength: It may also-bemade ofsyntlieticplastic-cord but better results areobtained by the combination of a metal cutter wire and a synthetic plasticor non-metallic carrier thread; You do not" need as much tension on the carrier thread as on' the cutter wire; Furthermore, by lbosening'the' c'arrierthread'; said thread is ofsubstantially even tension.

In my copending'application, SerialN'o. 7 73,818,

filed on" September 17, 1947; now Patent No. 215893911, the carrierbed is composed of individual-metal wires'with take-up meansfor each wire. By tightening each wireseparately it is difii cuit to obtain uniformityof'tensiom Ifonewirewera tightened more tha-n the others, theothers would loosen and the framewould have a tendency to bend or fracture; With the present construction theentire carrier cordis under one" tension and not under toogreat sorts-Wand" Mat thetopand bottom act as insulator-s against friction andipreventelectrolysis. They may, be driven into, place. in any suitable manner The anchors 20 may be driven into suitable openings in the flange I 3b or' may be screwed into place if desiredi Thehandle I 5 is hollow to reduce the wei'ght of the device; At the-inside-of transverse portion M ofthe remover framean'd at theopposite-sides of the through opening in the hollow handle are inwardly projecting stops Hi to limit the movement of the remover frame during the cutting stroke.

It will be noted that the transverse member I! is spaced above the cutter wire and carrier bed 24 so that the cut slab may pass thereunder. It

a tension. The plastic in with": siots; to. engage metal frame member provided will: benoted: furthermore; that. the;- notuhes i5 penmiuthescrewsdnitosliamoveminwardly beyond: the: flanges; I'Zx' and: I 3?? without; obstrution. Furthermore, it will bevnotedithatthacutt'er: wire: 45. is; aligned; withasaid HGIiJChBSiZSO! as not to contact; the surfaces- I20? and: |3a1- of the: res mover frame.

It. will. thusibe seenathat ,th ere: is: provided" aideviceriniwhichithe several objents ofvthisiinvention are: anhieveds and: which .isz well; adapted: to; meet the cnnditionszofi practicalausez.

Asvaniousrpossibissembodimentszmighabemade of." the:- above; invention; and v as various changes might bemadedrrtheembodimentfabovesetforth; it is to be: understood] that: all: matter herein set torthr or shown in: the; aoeompanying drawings is to: be ilrtenpreted: as=iilnstrative and not inva 11111.- iting, sense.

Having" thus; described my invention: claim as: new andi desire: to secure Letters; Patent:

1.. Al remover frame: comprising; a frame membut having; parallel arms. a transverse portion interconnecting the:

arms being formed: Withi through openings, at metali cutting' Wire'- passing through said? openings; screws: extending into: said? openingssaid with detentsg. and; said. lock nuts being formed saidt d'etents to prevent accidental; unscrewing: off said nuts.

2: Aremover'frameacomprising a: frame memher having: parallel arm's; atransverse portion inupwardly'from the forward ends of said arms, and a transverse portion interconnecting said upwardly extending? portions and disposed above the planeof said arms, said arms each being'of arngular cross-section and each comprising an a non-metalcord inter-laced through said openings and tasting theun'd'ersurfacesof tending flanges of said arms; and a cutterintereonnect-ing said arms and located in advance at the" carrier.

3: A remover frame comprising a. lightweight with a pair of parallel arms, a meta? cutterwire at the forward end of the frame member interconnected said' arms; a carrier bed on the frame comprising a single non-metallic cord interlaced on said frame and between said arms and having a plurality of runs, and means to tension the cutter wire to a greater tension than the carrier, bed, said arms having inwardly extending flanges and downwardly extending flanges, and the carrier bed substantially contacting the undersurface of said arms having inwardly extending flanges and downwardly extending flanges, and the carrier bed substantially contacting the undersurface of said inwardly extending flanges, said carrier bed comprising a cord having runs disposed transversely of said arms and lugs extending inwardly from the lower ends of the forward portions of said downwardly extending flanges, and non-metallic members on said inwardly extending flanges and lugs, the members on the inwardly extending flanges projecting below the undersurfaces of said flanges, and the members and the lugs projecting above the upper surfaces of said lugs.

5. A remover frame comprising a frame member having parallel arms, said arms each being of angular cross-section and comprising an upper, inwardly extending flange and an outer downwardly extending flange, said downwardly extending flanges being formed with through openings, a carrier bed comprising a cord interlaced through said openings, means to anchor the ends of said cord, said cord substantially contacting the undersurfaces of said inwardly extending flanges of said arms, said arms being formed with through openings in advance of the carrier bed, screws extending through said openings, a cutter wire having its ends anchored to said screws, angle shaped plates on said arms, said angle shaped plates comprising horizontal flanges contacting the inwardly extending flanges of the arms, and vertical flanges contacting the outer surfaces of the downwardly extending flanges of said arms, said vertical flanges of said angle shaped members having means to prevent relative rotation between the screws and said i angle shaped members, and nuts screwed onto said screws and contacting said vertical flanges of the angle shaped members.

6. A remover frame comprising a frame member having parallel arms, said arms each being of angular cross-section and comprising an upper, inwardly extending flange and an outer downwardly extending flange, a carrier bed interconnecting said arms, said arms being formed with through openings in advance of the carrier bed, screws extending through said openings, a metal cutter wire having its ends anchored to said screws, angle shaped plates on said arms, said angle shaped plates comprising horizontal flanges contacting the inwardly extending flanges of the arms, and vertical flanges contacting the outer surfaces of the downwardly extending flanges of said arms, said vertical flanges being formed with openings through which said screws pass, said openings each having a flat edge, and said screws having flats contacting the edges, whereby to prevent relative rotation between the screws and said angle shaped members, and nuts screwed onto said screws and flanges of the angle shaped members, said vertical flanges of said angle shaped members being formed with on or more detents and said nuts being formed with one or more slots engaging said detents.

'7. A remover frame comprising a, frame member having parallel arms, said arms each being of angular cross-section and comprising an upper, inwardly extending flange and an outer downwardly extending flange, said downwardly extending flanges being formed with through openings, a carrier bed comprising a cord interlaced through said openings, means to anchor the ends of said cord, said cord substantially contacting the undersurfaces of said inwardly extending flanges of said arms, said arms being formed with through openings in advance of the carrier bed, screws extending through said openings, a cutter wire having its ends anchored to said screws, angle shaped members on said arms, said angle shaped members comprising means to prevent relative rotation between the screws and said angle shaped members, and a nut screwed on to each screw and contacting said vertical flange of the angle shaped member, a pair of lugs extending inwardly from the lower ends of said downwardly extending flanges of said arms adjacent the forward ends of said arms, and underlying th inwardly extending flanges of said arms, and being formed with vertical through openings, and non-metallic inserts in said vertical through openings projecting above said lugs.

8. A remover frame comprising a frame member having parallel arms, said arms each being of angular cross-section and comprising an upper, inwardly extending flange and an outer downwardly extending flange, a carrier bed interconnecting said arms, said arms being formed with through openings in advance of the carrier bed, screws extending through said openings, a metal cutter wire having its ends anchored to said screws, means on said arms to prevent relative rotation between the screws and said arms, and a nut screwed onto each screw, a pair of lugs extending inwardly from the lower ends of said downwardly extending flanges of said arms adjacent the forward ends of said arms and underlying the inwardly extending and being formed with vertical through openings, non-metallic inserts in said vertical through openings projecting above said lugs, and said inwardly extending flanges of said arms being formed at the forward ends thereof with vertical through openings, and non-metallic inserts therein projecting below the undersurfaces of said inwardly extending flanges of said arms.

MAURICE J. VJEINBERG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,249,513 Scanlan Dec. 11, 1917 1,436,236 Cartuschka Nov. 21, 1922 1,714,495 Case May 28, 1929 2,114,277 Bloomfield Apr. 19, 1938 flanges of said arms, 

